Vishwaroopam terror in TN: Petrol bombs hurled at theatres

Chennai, Jan 30: Politics over Kamal Haasan's movie Vishwaroopam is getting murkier day by day. Now, petrol bombs have been hurled at two theatres in Tamil Nadu where the movie was scheduled to be screened on Wednesday, Jan 30.

The petrol bombs were hurled at theatres in the Ramanathapuram district, 600 kms from the state capital of Chennai. According to sources, nobody was hurt. However, glass windows were shattered at the theatres.

Earlier security was beefed up across Chennai ahead of the verdict of the Madras High Court on the release of the controversial film, Vishwaroopam. Police personnel were deployed around the court complex and other parts of the city.

Justice K Venkataraman cleared the film's release across the state around 10 pm by suspending the prohibitory orders given by officials asking theatres not to screen it. The situation remained tense as shops around the court complex remained shut after the verdict was given.

However, a Division Court on Wednesday again extended the ban on the release of the movie till Feb 4, 2013. Meanwhile, people in the state started protesting against the government asking to lift the ban on the movie.

Expressing his disappointment with the politics, the director-producer said, "I have explored all possibilities with my Muslim brothers. Now it's up to the court to decide. I only request to the government that they maintain law and order is in place, that nothing untoward happens to my Muslim fans."

Facing the tremendous opposition from government side, Kamal Haasan earlier in the day was quoted as saying, "I think Tamil Nadu wants me out. I will wait for a secular place to live in from Kashmir to Kerala leaving Tamil Nadu."

Complainants earlier had alleged that Vishwaroopam projected a minority community in negative lights. Reacting to such complaints, Kamal Haasan said, "There are various reasons given to me as to why this is happening, none of them makes sense to me. The fact is I still need to get any relief."